A sanitation truck was also in the area Wednesday to empty portable restrooms that the city set up two weeks ago so homeless people would have necessary facilities. Officials said the portable toilets were brought in so the homeless would stop relieving themselves in the middle of the street and on sidewalks.

Members of the homeless community have established a quasi-residence there by lining sidewalks near downtown with tents, police said. Members of that community dusted off blankets and rugs and picked up trash in the area on Wednesday.

The city brought out health-care workers and shelter staffers to try and help. Police patrolled the area, and officers passed out cards with numbers and contact information to shelters, mental health-care facilities and chemical dependency hotlines.

City leaders said that if tents downtown become a basic health and sanitation problem, they will enforce laws available to get the homeless out of the area. According to the city, it hasn’t put a timeline on when the campers will be moved, but it is trying to make sure each camper is aware of available assistance programs.